Saxophone



March 13, 1951 F. E. COMER 2,545,227

SAXOPHONE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1949 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY5 F. E. COMER SAXOPHONE March 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNov. 15, 1949 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1951 SAXOPHONE Floyd E. Comer,Bristol, Ind., assignor to Buescher Band Instrument Company, Elkhart,Ind.

Application November 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,367

1 Claim.

This invention relates to saxophones.

An object of this invention is to provide a saxophone which includesmeans for producing at least two additional high notes which are twooctaves above middle C, and which may be sounded without undulycomplicating the fingering. In the producing of the extra high notes ortones, the length of the instrument from the mouthpiece to the bell isretained, but the column is lengthened and the removable neck iscorrespondingly shortened to thereby retain the overall length of theinstrument. The problem of providing convenient keys for the pads issimplified by disposing the keys in a position to be operated by thefirst finger of the right hand.

The first of the high keys is F-sharp, and the next is G. In producingthe F-sharp tone, one key is depressed, whereas in producing the high Gtone, both the F-sharp and G keys are. depressed through the medium ofabridge between these keys.

In the conventional or prior Saxophones, the neck was secured to thetone column by means of a frictional telescoping fit, but in theimproved instrument herein disclosed a screw coupling is providedbetween the neck and the tone column, thereby providing a shorter and atthe same time a more secure connection between these parts.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a detail side elevation of a saxophone constructed accordingto an embodiment of this invention, with certain keys and pads nowpresentin the instrument being eliminated,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing thekey mountings for the pads,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure4,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates generally anelongated tubular body forming the tone member which tapers downwardly.The body ID has secured to the lower end thereof a tubular U-shapedmember II, and an upwardly and outwardly directed bell I2 extends fromthe U-shaped member H.

A neck 13, having a downwardly curved forward portion I4 is removablysecured to the upper end of the body 10, as will be hereinafterdescribed. The upper end of the body 10 has fixed thereto s4-ss5) as bysoldering or the like, an annular collar l5 which is formed with anannular flange I6 having internal threads 57. The flange 16 forms ashoulder IS, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

The forward or lower end of the neck l3 has fixed thereto a sleeve iswhich. is formed with upper and lower annular ribs 20 and 21respectively. The lower end of the sleeve I9 is adapted to engage on theshoulder l8 and is tightly held thereon by means of a swivelled nut 22having external threads engageable with the threads 11. An annularknurled flange or rib 23 is formed with the nut 22 and provides a meanswhereby the nut 22 may be rotated to tighten .or loosen the same withrespect to the threaded socket formed by the internally threaded flangeIt. In the present instance the tubular body ill which forms an altosaxophone is extended at the upper end thereof above the dotted lineindicated by the numeral 24.

In order to provide for the necessary tonal qualities throughout thelength of the body III, the air column provided by the neck 13 and thebody 10 is held to the conventional length by reducing the length of theneck 13 in an amount substantially equal to the distance from the dottedline 24 to the upper end of the body ID. The provision of the threadedconnection between the neck l3 and the body It] permits a more firmconnection between these members, eliminating the usual sliding fitbetween the members and 'at the same tim permitting the extension of thebody [0 and the shortening of the neck l3.

Within the extension area 25 above the dotted line 24, I have provided apair of openings 26 and 21 which are normally covered by a pair of pads28 and 29 respectively. The pad 28 is carried by a longitudinally bentlever arm 30, and the pad 29 is carried by a bent lever arm 3|. Thelever arm 30 is fixed to a tubular bearing member 32 which looselyengages a shaft or pin 33 which is fixed between a pair of supportingposts 34 and 35 which ar fixed to the tubular member Ill. The lever arm3| is fixed to a tubular bearing member 36 which loosely engages aboutthe shaft or pin 33, extending downwardly from the bearing 32.

A second tubular bearing 31 is connected with the bearing 32 inalignment therewith, by means of a pair of laterally projecting arms 38and 39 which are connected together by a tubular connecting member 40.The bearing member 31 has fixed thereto a substantially L-shaped keylever 4! which extends downwardly and is disposed in the lowermid-portion of the tubular member IE1 in a position for contact by thefirst finger of the right hand of the player.

The key lever 4| has fixed thereto a key member 42. The tubular bearingmember 36 has fixed thereto a substantially L-shaped key lever 43 andthis lever 43 extends downwardly and has fixed to the lower longitudinalside thereof a key member 44 which is positioned a short distance abovethe key member 42. The key member 44 has fixed thereto a downwardlyextending bridge 45 which underlies the key 42 so that when key 42 isdepressed, key 44 will also be depressed.

Key 44 which is connected with pad 29 produces the F-sharp note, whereawhen key 42 is depressed both pad 28 which is connected therewith andpad 29 will be raised to open position so as to produce the G note, thetwo notes F-sharp.

and G being in the third octave above middle C. By providing theoperating keys for the pads 28 and 29 in the lower mid-portion of theinstrument, the operation of these keys is simplified and can readily beeffected by the first finger of the right hand.

In saxophones which have been heretofore constructed, it has beenimpossible to provide for increased range without increasing the lengthof the instrument and at the same time without increasing the tonalcharacteristics of the instrument. However, in the present instance thishas been accomplished by the means hereinbefore described which includethe threaded connection between the neck and the tubular body at theupper end thereof where this body is smallest.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claim.

In the claim A saxophone comprising an elongated tubular tone columnterminating at one end in a flared bell, a relatively shortlongitudinally curved neck member, an annular collar fixedly secured tothe 4 end of the tone column opposite said bell, and having an internalhorizontal shoulder against which the top of the tone column abuts, ahorizontal shoulder on said collar, a vertical internally threadedannular flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said shoulder, asleeve having an internal shoulder fixed abutting the lower rim of saidneck member, and secured thereto whereby a smooth, projection free innersurface in the neck and tone column is provided, upper and lowerhorizontally disposed annular exterior ribs on said sleeve, said lowerrib seating in said first mentioned shoulder whereby said sleeve isspaced inwardly from said flange, and a nut member including a dependingexternally threaded flange, an internally ofiset shoulder engageablewith said upper rib and a knurled external annulus, said flangeextending between said upper and lower ribs and into the space betweensaid sleeve and said collar whereby to provide releasable threadedengagement between said tone column and said neck.

FLOYD E. COMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,480,039 Alpers Jan. 8, 1924,745,430 MacDonald Feb. 4, 1930 2,061,928 Albrecht Nov. 24, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 646,633 France July 17, 1928

